Ranking College Football Destinations by Best Pregame Fan Experience
Promo Code: BOOKIESBG150
Promo Code: Bonus Code: BOOKIESBG150
When people think of college football, the pageantry and passion of the fans might be the first thing that comes to mind. Unlike the cookie-cutter NFL, which are mostly mega-billion dollar businesses located in big cities, college football programs have their own regional traditions and identities, making each pregame experiences different than the others.
It begins with the fandom that surrounds every team and college football betting opportunities anywhere in the country.
For the fourth year in a row, Bookies.com has compiled a comprehensive list of the top pregame destinations among all four major conferences: the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC. The list is borne from an algorithm based on multiple factors. Among them:
Location: Close to the action, accessible to fans
Tailgating: The ability to park and enjoy a crisp fall day with a beverage and grill
Entertainment Around Stadium: A vibrant bar and restaurant scene within walking distance to your seat
Family Sentiment: Is the area safe and entertaining for kids and those with kids?
The pregame revelry of college football is unmatched. Below is a comprehensive list of all major conference programs, with a breakdown of the Top 10 – and the Bottom 5. The entire ranking list can be found below!
Promo Code: BOOKIESBG150
Promo Code: Bonus Code: BOOKIESBG150
The Top 10
1. Georgia Bulldogs
There are so many sights and sounds to encounter in Athens, that tailgating is almost secondary. Georgia ranked No. 1 in overall location and near the very top in tailgating, entertainment and family sentiment. Sanford Stadium rests in the center of campus, close to the bar and entertainment scenes. When it comes to pleasing everyone, nobody does it better than Georgia, including across national sports betting sites.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
Tide fans may not be considered as huge into the true party scene as some other SEC spots. Perhaps that is why only a handful of schools ranked higher for family sentiment as Tuscaloosa. It also features The Quad, a must-stop on gamedays. Those who want to hit the establishments were a cherry on top, as Alabama still ranked elite at tailgating and overall entertainment.
T3. Clemson Tigers
When it comes to having a good time in the ACC, it’s Clemson, FSU and everyone else. Clemson’s massive parking situation got the school the No. 1 ranking among the conference for tailgating, and Top 10 in the nation in three of the four categories. That’s tough to do. Thanks to its ascension as a national title contender under Dabo Swinney, Memorial Stadium is a bucket-list place for every type of college football fan.
T3. Texas Longhorns
Austin is a party on gamedays, and it’s spread wide and large. Texas tied with Georgia atop the location rankings and tied for second in tailgating. The scores dip from families despite a huge kid-friendly area adjacent to Memorial Stadium, and myriad traditions that are memorable for young and old. Check to see how sportsbooks are sizing up the Longhorns and Arch Manning this season with our latest NCAA football odds where you can compare betting lines from the best NCAA football betting sites.
Promo Code: BOOKIESDYW
Promo Code: Promo Code: BOOKIESDYW
5. LSU Tigers
LSU takes its pregaming seriously, and its Bayou culture offers a unique flavor and feel to the environment. No surprise, then, that Tigers games ranked No. 1 in both overall entertainment and tailgating, an amazing feat in the ultra-competitive college football pregame landscape. Its overall ranking dips due to a low score from families, and getting close to the stadium with gameday traffic isn’t easy, but worth it.
6. Tennessee Volunteers
Rocky Top blaring with the Pride of Southland marching around ranks near the top of most SEC traditions and is certainly memorable for fans of all ages. But Tennessee has something for everyone, with the bars just 15 minutes away and tailgating and family options all around Neyland Stadium.
7. Florida State Seminoles
FSU is known for being a top-tier party school, not just in the ACC but the entire country. Seminoles fans in Tallahassee take that reputation seriously and display it on Saturdays. FSU ranked Top 12 nationally tailgating and overall entertainment. Doak Stadium gets high marks for its location and scenery. Plus, the weather doesn’t hurt.
8. Wisconsin Badgers
It’s always a wild scene around Camp Randall Stadium and the infamous State Street on football Saturdays. The atmosphere is different, which is why Wisconsin ranked No. 1 among the prideful Big Ten schools in location – sandwiched between lakes Mendota and Minona and down from the state capitol building. The party starts early and doesn’t really end. With the type of fun being had, it’s likely not a shock that families didn’t rank it quite as high as other spots. But it’s just high enough to have Wisconsin on top among Big Ten programs.
Promo Code: BOOKIESDYW
Promo Code: Promo Code: BOOKIESDYW
T9. Iowa Hawkeyes
From a pure entertainment standpoint, there is a strong bar scene, ample for those who want to partake, but it’s not legendary. But every other aspect of a Saturday home game at Iowa is elite, and the scores reflect it. Iowa ranked notably high for families due to the friendly and safe nature of the fans and surroundings, and tailgating despite limited space reserved for it.
T9. Kansas State Wildcats
For those who like to park the car, pull out the grill and tailgate, lots open a whopping five hours before kickoff in Manhattan. For those who want to wander and experience, it’s even better. K-State ranked No. 1 among Big 12 schools for its entertainment options, despite the real bar scene being a solid two miles from Snyder Stadium. Perhaps it’s a divide-and-conquer strategy; the bars that are far away didn’t deter that crowd, and it also pushed families to rank it No. 1 in the nation. Everybody wins.
T9. NC State Wolfpack
NC State doesn’t get the same love as UNC in a lot of ways - including across North Carolina sports betting - but it doesn’t take a backseat when it comes to amping it up on college gamedays. NC State ranks among the very best in overall location and was Top 10 in family sentiment. Ample parking and Raleigh’s reputation as a BBQ capital make Wolfpack games worth the trip.
T9. Ohio State Buckeyes
You want a big-time college football feel? Columbus and Buckeyes football is it. Every pregame feels like a lead-up to something big, and the mammoth Ohio Stadium doesn’t disappoint. OSU ranked as the top tailgating spot in the Big Ten, and Top 3 in overall entertainment and location in the center of the big campus. Families dinged it pretty hard. As we said in last year’s rankings, “the language and vitriol created by such high-stakes games week after week means you’ll need to earmuff it for the little ones.” It’s a price to pay for being in the big time, especially this year as the defending national champions at Ohio sports betting sites.
T9. Oklahoma Sooners
The SooneRVillage is a spectacle, but fans will be content with a vibrant, nearby bar scene. Families have as many options in Norman as anywhere in the region, including the buzzing Party At The Palace. Oklahoma ranked in the upper-half in all four categories, joining Georgia, Alabama and Clemson as the only places that are truly special for all types.
Promo Code: BOOKIESBG150
Promo Code: Bonus Code: BOOKIESBG150
Bottom 5
T63. Stanford Cardinal
The Cardinal ranked among the bottom for tailgating – most students at this high-level university aren’t there to consume morning adult beverages – and entertainment options nearby didn’t make the grade. Also not helping: Stanford’s on-campus crime rate is far and away the highest of any major-conference school in the nation.
T63. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
No major program ranked lower for overall entertainment, mainly because the bar scene isn’t close and not much else is from that angle. The comparative lack of outside fun doesn’t stop the Scarlet Knights on the field; they were 4-3 at SHI Stadium last season and qualified for a bowl game.
65. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
With just over 5,000 undergrads on campus, Wake Forest is one of the nation’s smallest “big-time” college sports programs. But the lack of alumni and historical excitement don’t help. The Demon Deacons won just one home game in 2024. Winston-Salem graded OK for overall entertainment, but tailgating and the location – not adjacent to the scenic Wake Forest campus – dinged scores.
66. Vanderbilt Commodores
Nashville has become the nation’s go-to weekend party destination east of Las Vegas. But the excitement doesn’t seem to extend to Vanderbilt’s campus, which is 2.5 miles away from the hub of tourist action. The Commodores ranked last among SEC programs in three of the four major categories. As bad as it sounds, keep in mind, the SEC is a deep and prideful group when it comes to pregame entertainment and traditions.
67. Houston Cougars
Houston’s highest ranking was for entertainment, not a surprise with the popular Cougar Alley as a trendy destination for Cougars games. Other areas were more lacking in comparison, including parking for the downtown stadium, and perceived safety concerns that kept the family score lower.
Below is our full list of the best college football pregame destinations for the 2025 season.
| TEAm | Location | Tailgate | Entertainment | Family Sentiment | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 88 |
| Alabama | 15 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 78 |
| Clemson | 20 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 77 |
| Texas | 23 | 20 | 22 | 12 | 77 |
| LSU | 15 | 23 | 23 | 9 | 70 |
| Tennessee | 22 | 20 | 8 | 19 | 69 |
| Florida State | 19 | 20 | 18 | 10 | 67 |
| Wisconsin | 22 | 19 | 20 | 5 | 66 |
| Iowa | 17 | 16 | 11 | 21 | 65 |
| Kansas State | 3 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 65 |
| NC State | 22 | 18 | 5 | 20 | 65 |
| Ohio State | 19 | 21 | 21 | 4 | 65 |
| Oklahoma | 18 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 65 |
| Auburn | 14 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 62 |
| Texas Tech | 20 | 10 | 17 | 14 | 61 |
| Nebraska | 11 | 12 | 16 | 22 | 61 |
| North Carolina | 12 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 61 |
| Oklahoma State | 15 | 18 | 21 | 7 | 61 |
| Colorado | 21 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 60 |
| Virginia Tech | 8 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 60 |
| Louisville | 21 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 59 |
| Ole Miss | 10 | 23 | 12 | 13 | 58 |
| Minnesota | 16 | 10 | 22 | 10 | 58 |
| Penn State | 18 | 19 | 4 | 17 | 58 |
| Texas A&M | 17 | 8 | 20 | 12 | 57 |
| Washington | 12 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 57 |
| Oregon | 18 | 13 | 5 | 19 | 55 |
| Michigan | 21 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 54 |
| West Virginia | 11 | 21 | 5 | 17 | 54 |
| South Carolina | 9 | 22 | 8 | 13 | 52 |
| Central Florida | 10 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 52 |
| TCU | 8 | 6 | 18 | 20 | 52 |
| Utah | 17 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 52 |
| Michigan State | 13 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 50 |
| Pittsburgh | 14 | 11 | 19 | 6 | 50 |
| SMU | 16 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 50 |
| Indiana | 12 | 14 | 8 | 15 | 49 |
| Cincinnati | 14 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 45 |
| Northwestern | 4 | 2 | 17 | 22 | 45 |
| Syracuse | 5 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 44 |
| Arizona State | 8 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 40 |
| California | 10 | 4 | 17 | 9 | 40 |
| Kansas | 19 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 40 |
| Boston College | 5 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 39 |
| Illinois | 7 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 39 |
| Florida | 4 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 38 |
| USC | 3 | 11 | 19 | 2 | 35 |
| Missouri | 4 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 35 |
| Miami (Fla.) | 13 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 34 |
| Virginia | 16 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 33 |
| Arizona | 6 | 7 | 14 | 4 | 31 |
| Baylor | 13 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 29 |
| Georgia Tech | 1 | 8 | 19 | 1 | 29 |
| Kentucky | 9 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 28 |
| Duke | 2 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 28 |
| Mississippi State | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 27 |
| BYU | 5 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 27 |
| UCLA | 7 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 25 |
| Purdue | 1 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 24 |
| Maryland | 11 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 24 |
| Iowa State | 1 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 23 |
| Arkansas | 3 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
| Stanford | 9 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 21 |
| Rutgers | 7 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 21 |
| Wake Forest | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 16 |
| Vanderbilt | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| Houston | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
Claim For The Wanna Parlay Promo Code BOOKIES And Get 100% Deposit Match Up to $250 (July 25) 
BetMGM Bonus Code BOOKIESBG150: Grab $150 Sports Betting Bonus in MI, NJ, PA (July 25) 
bet365 Pennsylvania Casino Bonus Code BOOKIES: Deposit $10, Get up to 500 Spins 
BetMGM Casino Bonus Code BOOKIES2500| Grab 100% Match Bonus + 100 Bonus Spins (July 25) 
Fanatics Sportsbook NC Promo: Offers $250 in Bonuses For MLB, WNBA & More (July 25) 
bet365 Bonus Code BOOKIES: Get Up $1,000 Bonus for MLB & More (July 25)